Muhyiddin urges Najib to heed rulers’ call to solve 1MDB issue

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (right) meeting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (left) at the Umno Supreme Council meeting last month. The former deputy prime minister wants Najib to follow through on the Malay Rulers request for the 1MDB issue to be investigated and action to be taken against those who had caused the RM42 billion debt in the state-owned company. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 7, 2015.The onus is on the prime minister to heed the Malay rulers' call for the government to settle issues involving debt-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

The Umno deputy president said it was rare for the Conference of Rulers to issue statements unless it involved major issues that affect the public and the country.

"When Their Royal Highnesses speak out about the 1MDB issue, it signifies that 1MDB is a very big matter in their opinion and demonstrates their concern over the negative effects the 1MDB controversy has on the public and nation,” Muhyiddin said in a statement posted on his Facebook page today.

Muhyiddin told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ensure that investigations into the state investor by the relevant agencies are allowed to run in a transparent and fair manner.

He also urged Najib to ensure there was no disturbance by any parties into the investigations.

In welcoming the statement made by the Malay rulers yesterday, he said it showed that they were aware that issues over 1MDB were damaging the people's confidence in the government.

"If the probe finds that there were parties that ran afoul of the law, then legal action must be taken immediately without fear or favour, Muhyiddin said.

He said that until today, no action had been taken against anyone over the 1MDB scandal, adding that Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz had issued a statement saying the central bank had completed its probe on the state investor's transactions and that the findings had been handed over to the Attorney-General's Chambers in August.

Muhyiddin said that if the central bank's investigations had proof of wrongdoing under the country's laws, it was the responsibility of the A-G to charge those responsible.

"I am concerned that because the 1MDB scandal touches on public interest, any delays on the part of the attorney-general to prosecute will affect the people's confidence in the government.

"So the attorney-general must reveal to the public as soon as possible the developments into this probe," Muhyiddin said.

Najib dropped Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister in a Cabinet reshuffle in July.

The Umno deputy president had been vocal in criticising the prime minister over the government's handling of the 1MDB scandal and over the RM2.6 billion that was deposited into Najib's personal bank accounts.

- TMI